Add a Layer of Finished Compost and Mulch: Push aside mulch, pull any weeds, and add a 1-2-inch layer of finished compost. Lightly cover the beds with the old mulch to help suppress weeds and protect the soil without insulating the beds. Many diseases and pests are killed when the soil freezes in winter.
If you don't want to plant cover crops, cover your garden soil with mulch, which protects the ground from the winter elements while holding everything in place. Organic mulch is the way to go. Bark, wood chips, straw, grass clippings, rice and other seed hulls are great options.
Add compost or aged manure about an inch deep across your bed to keep the soil covered over winter, weeds suppressed, and worms busy. The worms will drag it down to the soil so the microbes can work on it, too, releasing all those nutrients in time, and feeding your crop for next spring.
Compost, a crumbly soil-like material, is alive with worms and beneficial fungi and bacteria. It enriches soils, provides nutrients and increases the soil's ability to hold moisture. Several inches of compost can be piled on top of vegetable beds in autumn. Worms and other organisms will slowly work it into the soil.
Consider the specific requirements of the plants you want to grow. For example, if you're planting cool-season grasses, laying topsoil in the fall is ideal. Alternatively, if you're planting warm-season grasses or certain vegetables, early spring may be a better option.
Whether you're new to gardening, or a seasoned pro, building better soil is the single most important thing you can do to improve your gardening success. And fall is the best time to do it!
The fall is the best time to add compost or manure to your garden soil. There are many forms of nitrogen that can exist in compost or manure. Not all forms of nitrogen are forms that plants can use. Some forms of nitrogen need to be broken down by bacteria or other plants into forms that are usable.
On other edible crops, fresh manure applications should be made at least three months prior to harvest. With just a four month or so growing season, this means you should only apply fresh manure in the fall; not in the spring or during the growing season to any area that is or will be planted with food crops.
Fertilizing in the fall helps plants be hardier when the temperatures drop. We also recommend applying fertilizer in the late fall, toward the end of October or early November. This application will catalyze one last frenzy of root growth and really give your plants some staying power through the cold months.
One way you can keep soil moist in the winter is by covering your beds with a layer of wet burlap or straw that will insulate and retain moisture. Additionally, adding an organic mulch will break down over time, providing additional nutrients for your soil.
Manure. Organic animal and mushroom manure are inexpensive soil amendments but they vary widely in nutrient content depending on the type of manure and the age. Fresh manure that has not been composted with bedding (like straw) has higher nutrients.
Mulches also moderate soil temperature. Organic mulches may be incorporated into the soil as amendments after they have decomposed to the point that they no longer serve their purpose. There are two broad categories of soil amendments: organic and inorganic.
Start by adding compost. However big your pile of old soil, add about 1/3rd additional compost to it. Compost recharges and adds incredible structure the soil. The finer the compost is, the better for potting soil.
FAQ About Topdressing
It's optional, but yes, you can fertilize before topdressing a lawn. If you decide to aerate, the fertilizer should be put down after you aerate and before you place the topdressing material. This extra fertilizer boost will help increase the turf's growth and health.
Healthy topsoil has the high amounts of organic matter and microorganisms. It has compounds in it such as sand, silt, and clay that make it ideal for growing. It has concentrations of nutrients including potassium, phosphorus, and iron. Dirt, on the other hand, is not suitable for growing.
Those nutrients usually need to be replenished every so often for the healthiest growth, no matter which type of soil you have. This is especially true for the soil where you grow annual flowers and vegetables, which suck up a lot of nutrients to fuel their rapid growth.
Soil can become depleted and hard over time, holding less water and nutrients. But how often you change soil in potted plants depends on the plant. Faster growing houseplants may need annual repotting, while slower growers may be able to wait 1.5 to 2 years.
It's generally fine to reuse potting soil if whatever you were growing in it was healthy.
Replenish lost nutrients by adding slow-release fertilizers, vermiculite or compost. Because compost is dense, it can lead to compaction and should be used judiciously (a ratio of one part compost to three to four parts potting soil is most effective).
Coffee grounds have a high nitrogen content, along with a few other nutrients plants can use. In compost, they help create organic matter that improves the ability of soil to hold water.